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Health & Aging

The Health & Aging field of study in the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences graduate program is a scholarly, interdisciplinary, research-based program driven by research in a variety of aging-related thematic areas.

Field Goals

This field of study supports collaborative learning, with students and faculty mutually discovering and creating knowledge. As it encourages creativity, innovation, independence and initiative in seeking and acquiring knowledge, MSC/PhD students will:

Develop an in-depth understanding of the complexities of aging across the lifespan, from prevention to end of life, and will explore significant health issues related to aging and age-related social determinants of health at individual, community, health system, and policy levels.

Strengthen and apply their scientific inquiry skills, apply and advance their knowledge in research methods and issues related to aging.

Expand their analytic and critical thinking skills by integrating evidence, theory, and practice in understanding and responding to significant issues related to aging.

Establish and/or broaden collaborative research and practice partnerships relevant to aging within the university environment, its affiliated research institutions, community health agencies, and communities of seniors.

Field Requirements

MSc Courses

HS 9601a - Quantitative Methods in Health Sciences - 0.5 credit*HS 9515 (statistics) is strongly recommended as a precursor to this course. This course is designed to provide participants with an introduction to quantitative research methods, including basic research study design and the skills and practice necessary to determine the internal validity of evidence found in the health sciences literature. We will specifically address the validity of studies evaluating effectiveness of interventions (randomized trials, cohort and case control studies), diagnostic tests, risk factors, development of disease, and disease prognosis and conclude the course with an introduction to systematic review.

HS 9602a - Qualitative Research Methods in Health Sciences - 0.5 credit This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the qualitative paradigm and its current and potential applications in health and rehabilitation sciences. The philosophical assumptions that form an integral part of the qualitative paradigm will be examined, as will the assumptions underlying various qualitative schools of inquiry (e.g., grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, action research, narrative). Key considerations in the critical evaluation and design of qualitative studies within several schools of inquiry relevant to health and rehabilitation sciences will be addressed. Students will have opportunities to engage in critical analysis of qualitative research; discuss ethical issues related to the conduct of qualitative research; and engage in the process of proposal development within a group.

PhD Courses

HS 9707a - Linear Regression for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences - 0.5 credit*HS 9601 is recommended as a precursor to this courseThis course is an introduction to linear regression for health sciences, examining simple regression, multiple regression, the use of categorical independent variables, and the fitting of interaction terms. Although formulas are given and calculations are presented, the principal orientation of the course is conceptual rather than mathematical.

HS 9708 - Advanced Topics in Qualitative Research - 0.5 credit*HS 9602 is recommended as a precursor to this courseThis course will give learners the opportunity to learn how to rigorously and systematically analyse qualitative data in the form of interview transcripts from a study on women's experience of aging and osteoporosis. The course will begin with a review of the three key qualitative approaches or research designs used in the health sciences (grounded theory, qualitative case study and phenomenology). Next, we will highlight how the approaches are shaped by specific research paradigms (post-positivism, interpretivism/constructivism or critical theory).

HS 9730b - Philosophical Foundations of Qualitative Research - 0.5 credit*HS 9602 is recommended as a precursor to this courseThis course provides an introduction to philosophical foundations of qualitative research with a particular focus on interpretive and critical paradigms of inquiry. Assumptions about what constitutes knowledge (epistemology), the nature of existence (ontology), and means for gaining knowledge (methodology) within different knowledge paradigms are considered. Students examine philosophical and theoretical perspectives that underpin various schools to qualitative inquiry and identify perspectives relevant to the coherent and rigorous design of research. Within this course, students explore perspectives that relate to their own research interests; expand their familiarity with the specialized terminology adopted in qualitative research; consider approaches to representing, writing and publishing qualitative research; and investigate implications for the design and evaluation of qualitative research in health and social care. This course is highly recommended for doctoral level students completing a qualitative research dissertation, and is open to highly motivated Masters level students wishing to deepen their research knowledge.

HS 9640 - Demography of Aging - 0.5 credit This interdisciplinary graduate course examines critical issues related to population aging, health care challenges driven by an aging population, and implications for health policy, education and research. The course will examine demographic trends, successful aging, the global burden of disease, compression of morbidity, the concept of frailty, conceptual frameworks and models that guide care of the elderly, health system design and capacity, and emerging new national and international trends.

HS 9740b - Current Topics in Health & Aging- 0.5 creditCurrent topics in health and aging is a seminar course designed to stimulate critical thinking in the area. Students are expected to actively participate in seminars through informed discussions on current topics in health and aging and presentation of their on-going research activities.

HS 9641 - Bio-Psycho-Social Dimensions of Aging - 0.5 credit This research-based seminar style course investigates bio-psycho-social dimensions of aging on the individual level. Students will be introduced to and encouraged to discuss theories of aging while using an interdisciplinary approach to examine the physical, psychological and social changes a person experiences with aging. Students will be challenged to simulate aging, engage in self-reflection, explore assessment tools in gerontology, partner with a senior for a case study, conduct measurements of an elder’s bio-psycho-social status, and learn how to prepare and deliver a short lecture, abstract, poster and essay.

As necessary, students may need to take the courses listed below as pre- or co-requisite courses.

HS 9515a - Introduction to Statistics for Health & Rehabilitation Sciences - 0.5 credit This is an introductory statistics course for students entering the Graduate Program in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. It includes data presentation and normalization, types of variables and levels of measurement, descriptive statistics, and hypothesis testing using both nonparametric and parametric procedures. This course is designed to introduce techniques used to analyze quantitative data used in health-related research and allied fields. Emphasis will be placed on the basic concepts of quantitative analysis including an introduction to multivariate analysis, and the use of statistical software.

HS 9516a - Introduction to Research Methods Health & Rehabilitation - 0.5 credit This course addresses foundational knowledge and skills contributing to the development of students as early researchers. In this course, students will explore the philosophical assumptions underlying qualitative and quantitative methodologies, develop an appreciation of the potential contributions of various types of research, and reflect on their own assumptions and values regarding what they view as credible knowledge and ways of knowing. Students will discuss essential research elements, ethical principles and quality criteria relevant to qualitative and quantitative methodologies and designs, and will begin to develop critical appraisal skills.

Several seminars are open to all faculty and students in the HRS program, and are regularly scheduled thorough the academic year. Announcements about the speaker and specific topics addressed in each seminar will be provided via e-mails (Amber Trent) and posted on the HRS seminar board. Topics and format of these seminars may vary. A student may be required to attend one or more of these seminar series depending on their field and/or based on the recommendations of their advisory committee.

The Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (HRS) Common Seminar is a required program milestone. MSc and PhD students must attend regularly the seminar in their first year of enrolment in the HRS Program. The seminar is intended to provide a forum for scholarly interactions among students registered in the various fields comprising the HRS program. In addition, the seminar is designed and will be run to foster the development of research skills necessary for graduate school success.

Health and Aging Seminar Series The Health and Aging seminar is required for MSc students during the first year and PhD students during the first two years of study. It is open to all interested field members and designed to expose students to a breadth of topics and research methods in the field of Aging. During each seminar, a faculty member or senior student in the field will present something from their research (completed, in progress or a comps paper), followed by an open discussion of the implications of the information for the field of aging in terms of: future research directions; societal trends; government policy and or health and social service delivery.

All PhD students must pass a formal comprehensive examination as a requirement of the PhD degree:

The exam consists of a written paper of publishable quality in peer-reviewed manuscript or book chapter format.

The purpose of the candidacy examination is to:

Demonstrate scholarly writing

Demonstrate a critical synthesis of theory and literature

Situate the student’s planned research within the field, including theory, research literature, and research methods

This paper will be evaluated by the Candidacy Examination Committee: the student’s supervisor, and two other individuals. Normally, all 3 examiners will have PhD-Level Training, and will have graduate membership in SGPS. Other individuals who may be external to the field, program, or university, can act as examiners as long as s/he is approved by the Health & Rehabilitation Sciences program.

The exam must be completed successfully in order for students to begin the thesis phase. The Procedure, planning form, and evaluation form can be found on the HRS Program OWL web-site.

The Health and Aging seminar is required for MSc students during the first year and PhD students during the first two years of study. It is open to all interested field members and designed to expose students to a breadth of topics and research methods in the field of Aging. During each seminar, a faculty member or senior student in the field will present something from their research (completed, in progress or a comps paper), followed by an open discussion of the implications of the information for the field of aging in terms of: future research directions; societal trends; government policy and or health and social service delivery.